Another Parish (1) Martinez immediately started the next task.
It was fixing the small playground equipment in the yard where children were playing.
"This seems like it'll be difficult."
Was it because of the heavy rain?
The old merry-go-round was already rotting and about to fall apart. He had no choice but to buy a new one.
He thought about asking Sister Dorthea if she could buy one, but then shook his head.
Even recently, when he said something similar, the answer from Dorthea was always the same.
There was no money.
No money. How could this be possible, being one of the branches of the Petra Order, suffering from such a financial crisis?
No matter it was Tirna, he thought the main order would provide some financial support.But looking at the facilities of this orphanage, he couldn't sense that they were receiving any support at all.
Even if he wanted to ask why, Dorthea would mysteriously sense it and mumble something before leaving.
Creak.
The merry-go-round wet from the rain creaked and fell to its side.
It had finally given up and met its end.
Children often rode on it, and some pure-hearted children would shed tears of sadness.
Martinez didn't want to see that. Why should someone cry? They did nothing wrong.
'Money.'
Martinez had never felt any financial hardship when working outside.
He had chased heretics to the end, no matter where they hid. Staying up all night was basic, and he had to sleep in extreme environments.
This was possible thanks to his powerful divine power that could be called talent.
And he never pursued other desires. The three common desires felt like unnecessary byproducts of the body to Martinez.
Occasionally when money was needed, the order's people took care of it, and otherwise, his power and position solved everything.
So he had never felt inconvenience. He didn't even know what inconvenience was.
But it was different in Tirna.
While the order's people call Tirna the city of sinners, others call it a city of opportunity and gold.
If you come here, regardless of status, you could be treated according to your abilities. By doing so, you could seize enormous wealth. Truly what could be called gold.
But beyond that brilliant light, there is always a more vivid and dark shadow.
In Tirna, those without abilities are eliminated, and those without money live a terribly harsh life.
Martinez felt this fact deeply.
It wasn't just that the children here couldn't eat properly. He could feel it just by looking around District 41.
Children cleaning chimneys. Workers carrying heavy loads in brick factories. People who can't even sleep properly and suffer from work all night.
They can't even lie down comfortably. They had to lean their bodies on ropes. And they even had to pay money just to lean on those ropes.
On rainy days like this, those living in semi-basements or underground suffer an even more terrible disaster.
The drainage doesn't work properly, streets flood, and people often drown.
Corpses would float in the middle of the street.
When such corpses appear, instead of reporting to the police, most people would rejoice as if they've obtained the dead person's empty house.
Martinez had seen such scenes.
Not everyone in this city was like this. The situation changed when you reached District 30.
People in District 30 lived lives worse than ordinary, but better than those in District 41. It was hard to understand how the environment could change so instantly just by crossing one district.
Only then did Martinez realize the infamy of this golden city.
This was something that needed deep consideration.
He realized that factors he hadn't cared about before were important parts of life, and now an urgent problem had arrived.
'Do I need to earn money?'
But Martinez didn't know how to earn money.
He thought about getting advice, but there weren't many people he knew in this city.
'Someone I know.'
Two faces immediately came to mind.
Osian and Ena Grunt.
Just as he was slightly shaking his head, thinking that couldn't be right, he sensed multiple presences below the hill.
Martinez stared with half-opened eyes at the wide-open front gate.
Although the seasonal rain had slightly weakened, it was still raining.
No matter how he looked at it, there was no good reason for multiple people to visit this orphanage on a hill.
'Vagrants?'
On days like this, there were not a few vagrants who commit robbery because they had nowhere to stay.
Especially places like orphanages or childcare centers that receive support funds were often targeted.
In fact, there had been several robbery attempts since Martinez arrived here.
Of course, Martinez had easily chased them away each time.
'There are many of them.'
But before, it was only one or two people, and the presence approaching now seemed to be more than twenty.
Just as he thought it might be difficult to handle, a priest in a pure white robe appeared at the front gate.
Martinez was not unaware of what the robe and the golden emblem embedded in it symbolized.
'Brothers of the order?'
At their center was a man in his 60s dressed more glamorously than the others.
Thin, with sunken eye sockets and protruding cheekbones, his appearance felt somewhat eerie.
Even though the priests around him were holding an umbrella for him, he looked consistently displeased.
His expression was as if directly protesting why he had to come to such a place.
At least during Martinez's stay in Tirna, he had never seen such a face.
'Who is he?'
If he was from the Petra Order, he was most likely from another branch in this city.
From his attire and the fact that he brought other order members, his position seemed very high.
Why did such a person come here?
Whatever the reason, this might be fortunate. From their appearance, they didn't seem to be short on money.
He could ask them to share some support funds.
With that thought, Martinez slowly approached them.
"Huh?"
The leading knight noticed Martinez.
"Hello, brothers."
Martinez greeted them, and the knight at the front took a step forward.
He was at least twice the size of Martinez, and his arms were as thick as a child's head, suggesting he hadn't neglected his training.
"Who are you? Are you a child staying here?"
Martinez could easily be mistaken for an orphanage child due to his actual young age.
Martinez corrected him in the gentlest tone possible.
"I am merely a believer who serves the Father in Heaven."
It was an introduction typical among members of the religious order.
Under normal circumstances, the other party would have respected this. However, the knight in front of him was different.
"What? What nonsense are you talking about? Kid, stop playing around and move aside. We are very busy people."
His tone was overtly condescending. Even though Martinez had introduced himself as a member of the order, the knight didn't seem to believe him.
That was understandable. Martinez was not wearing the typical vestments that symbolized the religious order.
Moreover, he looked quite young, so from the knight's perspective, his identity was unclear.
Martinez was well aware of these circumstances and wanted to calmly clear up the misunderstanding.
"Brother, although I am young, I am definitely a knight assigned to this place."
Martinez was genuinely happy to meet members of the order after a long time.
Because of this, his voice was unusually soft and respectful, unlike his typical self.
If Osian or Dorthea had seen this, they would have been surprised, asking, "You can speak like this?"
Martinez pulled out a medal from his chest, something that could be considered a knight's insignia.
The knight's expression darkened upon seeing this.
"This is..."
A symbol given to Paladins. However, the one Martinez had brought out was slightly different.
The symbol could only be received by a regular knight who had passed the apprenticeship and been officially recognized.
Such a symbol for regular knights was typically silver.
When promoted to a senior Paladin, they would receive a gold symbol, the same color as divine power.
And beyond that.
If one becomes a commander leading a unit or equivalent to a knight, they would receive a new symbol.
The flames surrounding the cross on the symbol were proof of this.
The flames symbolized purification. Using the flames of purification was a characteristic of inquisitors.
In other words, the symbol Martinez brought out was the only item symbolizing him among the 13 divisions.
'Is it fake? But he's showing it too confidently. If it's real, is it even possible? This young boy possessing a special insignia?'
The Paladin in front of him had been a silver insignia holder for nearly 20 years after shedding his apprentice status.
The symbol before him was beyond his comprehension.
Who could even imagine that this young boy with a stern face would purify all heretics?
It was a natural reaction.
Martinez was a unique case among the 13 divisions, primarily working independently without forming a group.
He always wore his hood deeply pulled down, so only those in the main order knew his bare face. It was natural that knights in Tirna wouldn't know him.
Even those who knew Martinez somewhat were occasionally surprised that such a young child was a purification judge, so those who didn't know him would be even more so.
Just as the regular knight was unsure how to handle this, an irritated voice from behind spoke up.
"Hey! What are you all doing! Do you plan to leave me standing in this dirty place for long!"
"I, I'm sorry."
The regular knight immediately apologized and then spoke to Martinez.
"Kid, step aside. Impersonating a knight is a very serious crime. Since you look young, I'll let it slide this one time."
While his words seemed merciful, underneath was a firm refusal to acknowledge Martinez.
This was due to a narrow-minded attitude of not wanting to admit that this young person could be a more superior knight.
'Right. How could such a young guy be a better knight than me.'
With a superior officer complaining behind him, he tried to push Martinez aside.
"Move. If you continue to annoy us, you'll taste something unpleasant."
"Brother, I believe I clearly showed you my credentials."
"What? This kid..."
Although the knight glared, Martinez naturally passed by him.
Huh? The regular knight couldn't stop Martinez from passing by.
Not only was it an unexpected situation, but the knight couldn't properly track Martinez's movement.
More accurately, he couldn't properly recognize it even though he saw it with his own eyes.
Martinez naturally passed the knight and stood before the elderly man under the umbrella.
The old man's sharp eyes were directed at Martinez. Martinez met his gaze without avoiding it, remaining calm.
"Which diocese do you belong to?"
Was that irritating? The old man's eyebrows twitched.
The priests and knights who usually attended to the old man immediately sensed that his mood was very bad.
"Answer."
"This kid!"
The regular knight, losing his composure at the thought of letting Martinez slip away, erupted in anger. He tried to grab Martinez's head with his large, thick hand and press him to the ground.
However, no matter how much force he used, Martinez maintained his upright posture.
Instead, the knight's forearm began to tremble.
'What, what is this?'
No matter how much force he applied, Martinez didn't budge an inch. Even when he pushed with muscles bulging.
It felt like he was desperately trying to crush a metal lump disguised as a child.
Realizing this wasn't working, the knight reached for the mace at his waist.
At that moment, the door inside the orphanage opened, and Dorthea's roar burst out.
"What are you doing right now!"
Her voice was so loud that it was natural for everyone's gaze to converge, and the knight about to grab his weapon flinched.
Regardless, Sister Dorthea walked out into the rain without caring and approached Martinez, dragging him away.
Martinez, who had been immovable despite the knight's desperate attempts to restrain him, was easily pulled along by Dorthea's hand.
"What are you doing blocking the guests!"
"Sister Dorthea."
"Never mind, get inside! Quick!"
Dorthea scolded Martinez in a deliberately angry voice, then immediately changed her expression and smiled at the old man.
"Ahaha. Long time no see. What brings you here?"
"Is there a place I cannot come to?"
"That's not it. It's just that today is not the right time."
"I came early because I was worried something might go wrong due to the weather."
"Even so..."
The old man cut off Dorthea's words and frowned.
"Do I need to report everything to you?"
"..."
Dorthea's expression darkened slightly. Regardless, the old man quickly brought up the main point, as if to quickly take care of his business and leave.
"Bring the children I was promised."
"Well..."
As Dorthea hesitated, the old man's eyes sharpened.
Before anger could settle in his eyes, the priest beside him was quicker to step forward.
"How insolent!"
The priest struck Dorthea's cheek. Her head jerked to the side.
"This bitch who was overlooked is now rising up. Who do you think you're talking to like that! We don't need your opinion! We'll take care of it, so get out of the way!"
Dorthea said nothing in response to the priest's rebuke. However, by not moving from her spot, she showed that she would not yield.
"This woman, until the end..."
Boom!
A massive vibration that shook the entire room interrupted the priest's words.
Everyone's gaze turned to the source of the vibration, Martinez.
Martinez, with an even colder face, stared at the priest and knights.
His gaze lingered especially on the priest who had struck Dorthea.
"Please explain what is happening right now."
His voice pierced through the sound of rain and reverberated in everyone's heads.
"This is what you should do while I'm asking nicely."